ABSTRACT
This study involved pediatric cases with Acute fulminant hepatocellular failure (AFHF) put on conventional therapy at the Hospital for children, Madras. In these cases, the biogenic amine status was studied at the time of admission, during therapy and at the time of recovery in responders. The CSF 5-HT, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and Homovanillic acid (HVA), blood 5-HT and 5-HIAA, and urinary 5-HIAA followed almost a similar pattern of changes during the course of AFHF: increase at precoma, further increase at coma, return towards control at recovery. In striking contrast, urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid (VMA) registered a decrease at precoma, a further fall at coma and a value closer to control at recovery. The results suggest the usefulness of assay of these parameters in monitoring cases of AFHF during therapy and in offering prognosis for these cases.